Link Between Alzheimer’s Disease and Poor Sleep Suggested in New Study

Lack of sleep on a regular basis or waking up several times during the night may be harmful to the brain and increase the risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease, according to recent evidence.
Patients with Alzheimer’s disease tend to sleep poorly and stay awake more often at night. However, researchers have been unsure if poor sleep plays a role in the development of Alzheimer’s, or if it is an early symptom of the disease. Now, evidence from new studies further highlights the association between poor sleep and dementia.
In the study, "Self-Reported Sleep and Beta-Amyloid Deposition in Community-Dwelling Older Adults," published in JAMA Neurology, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health researchers discovered that people with poor sleep patterns are more likely to exhibit an increase in brain levels of beta-amyloid, a toxic protein that forms plaques in the brains of patients with Alzheimer’s disease.
Researchers examined 70 older adults with a mean age of 76. Participants were part of the ongoing Baltimore Longitudinal Study of Aging. The researchers used brain scans and found that those who said they got the least sleep -- fewer than five hours a night -- or who slept fitfully had higher levels of beta-amyloid in the brain compared with those who slept more than seven hours a night.
Researchers couldn’t determine if poor sleep led to acceleration in the accumulation of beta-amyloid, or if beta-amyloid accumulatio

Disclaimer:

Alzheimer's News Today is strictly a news and information website about the disease. It does not provide medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. This content is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read on this website.

Pin It on Pinterest

We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. If you continue to use this site we will assume that you are happy with it. We never use your cookies for creepy ad retargeting that follows you around the web. OkRead more